The Java Tiger (Panthera tigris sondaica)

[phatio]

Since Bali tigers have disappeared long before the  invention of color photographs, we never have a chance to see them in their real color. So i tried to re-colorize their black and white photos available on the internet in order to see how they really look like. Ofc it's not 100% accurate but at least better than just looking at animals in BW photos.

Bali Tiger hunted in Gunung Gondol, November 1911 (@GuateGojira correct me if im wrong)

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*This image is copyright of its original author

Balinese Male Tiger

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Another Balinese Male 

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Cecil HH Heaps Balinese Male around 1916

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From my observation, just like their cousin javan tiger, i never saw any bali tigers with belly flap. The absence of this features combining with very short and dark hair all over their body and large front arms gives them the appearance of stocky build animals, imo

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Last one, allegedly living Bali tigers at the Ringling Bros circus, USA, circa 1915. I dont know the validity of this claim, but i colorized them anyway.
Their small body looks really dark, with numerous black stripes, so one thing for sure they're definitely sonda tigers. 

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*This image is copyright of its original author

And this face, i think we don't see that on a daily basis, it looks so unique to me

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He/she have similar stripe pattern of sumatran tiger but combined with elongated face just like their cousin javan tiger Reply